Civil arrests would be barred near Minnesota court proceedings

A person covered by the rule would be protected from civil immigration arrest while traveling to, attending, or returning from court. The rule covers parties, witnesses, potential witnesses, and their court companions, including certain family members, helpers, and people who transport them. It covers the courthouse, its grounds, nearby surrounding streets, and public ways within 1,000 feet. A civil arrest includes taking someone into custody for an alleged civil immigration violation or briefly stopping them to serve certain immigration papers. The definition excludes arrests for crimes, certain release-condition violations, and arrests supported by a judicial warrant or order.

A person who violates the protection would be liable for damages, and a court could order other relief. A person arrested in violation of the court-attendance protection may seek civil damages, including actual damages and $10,000 in statutory damages. The person making the arrest must have known or reasonably should have known that the arrested person was covered and traveling to, attending, or returning from court. A court may award a winning plaintiff reasonable attorney fees and costs. This section applies to claims arising on or after August 1, 2026.

The text bars named federal immigration officers from making civil arrests prohibited by the court-attendance rule. The arrest-authority provision names officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The rule does not prevent a criminal arrest under a judge's warrant or an arrest based on probable cause of a crime. The text preserves certain legal defenses, including qualified immunity, and does not allow claims against judicial branch staff acting lawfully to keep courts safe and orderly.